Kovacic hails City's character after Brugge comeback | OneFootball

Mateo Kovacic has praised City's belief, attitude and desire after fighting from a goal down to beat Club Brugge 3-1 and securing progression into the play-off round of the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues knew only victory under the Etihad floodlights would secure progression, but went into the interval a goal down after Raphael Onyedika blasted the visitors ahead.

Kovacic got the comeback started with a precise finish into the bottom corner eight minutes after the break, before Joel Ordonez turned Josko Gvardiol's cross into his own net to put us ahead just after the hour mark.

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Substitute Savinho scored his first Champions League goal to give us some breathing space for the final few minutes of an enthralling clash.

"It’s obviously a game with a lot of pressure, we had to win," said the Croatian after the game. "The first half was not bad, but we just couldn’t score, or get chances. Then we conceded.

"In the end, we are happy that we scored and that we could win the game. In the end we had a really good game I think. I don’t know if it was one of the biggest ones [half-time team talk from Pep Guardiola], but it was good for sure. Because we came out very well.

"We knew we needed to step up because the first half was not enough. Second half we showed great character and great desire to win and go through. The crowd was behind us, it was an amazing atmosphere today.

"We knew we were here to go through to be in the next stage. We are a good team, we can be there. Today we showed we have great character to come back from one goal down. That’s what a great team does."

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Guardiola's men will either face Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in a two-legged play-off.

Our opponents will be confirmed in this Friday’s draw in Nyon and will be communicated on mancity.com and our official app.

"Every team in the Champions League is a tough one," he declared. "First of all we are happy we are through because it was a tough group stage for us. It was not easy.

"We are through which is most important. Whoever comes next will be difficult, so it doesn’t matter."